Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s commissioner-general, stated that the confiscation of the agency’s training centre in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood is part of a broader Israeli effort to eliminate both UNRWA and the Palestinian refugee question. “This is not an isolated incident. It is a systematic campaign to dismantle the agency and remove the refugee issue from the international agenda,” Lazzarini said in a statement.
The training centre, which provided vocational courses and other services to Palestinian refugees, was reportedly taken over by Israeli authorities earlier this week. UNRWA officials say the move disrupts vital assistance to thousands of refugees in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Israel has not officially commented on the specific seizure, but government sources have repeatedly described UNRWA as “deeply flawed” and “an obstacle to peace”.
Israel’s long-standing opposition to UNRWA centres on two main arguments. First, Jerusalem contends that the agency’s definition of Palestinian refugees—including descendants of those displaced in 1948—perpetuates the conflict by artificially inflating refugee numbers. Second, Israeli officials have accused UNRWA staff of involvement in militant activity, including operations linked to Hamas. The agency has repeatedly denied these allegations and has launched internal investigations.
The current incident comes amid a broader push by the Israeli government to restrict UNRWA’s operations. In recent months, the Knesset has advanced legislation that would revoke UNRWA’s privileges and immunities in Israel, effectively barring the agency from operating in East Jerusalem. Such a move would severely limit the agency’s ability to provide education, healthcare, and relief to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
International reaction has been mixed. The United States, traditionally a major donor to UNRWA, has reduced funding in recent years, while the European Union has maintained support but called for reforms. The United Nations has urged Israel to respect UNRWA’s mandate under international law. Lazzarini’s statement is likely to intensify debate over the agency’s future and the broader political status of Palestinian refugees.
Critics of UNRWA argue that the agency has outlived its original purpose and should be replaced by development-focused programmes managed by host countries. Supporters, however, maintain that until a just and lasting solution to the refugee question is reached, UNRWA remains indispensable. The agency currently serves about 5.9 million registered Palestinian refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza.